This weekend was a busy one for local college sports teams.

It was University at Albany coach Bob Ford's final home game. The Great Danes lost to New Hampshire, but that was only part of the story.

To the left is a picture page from Coach Ford's final game in the city of Albany.

Also in college football, RPI reclaimed the Dutchman Shoes, by beating Union, 31-28.

The Union/RPI rivalry didn't stop at football. The Skating Dutchmen extracted some revenge for their school, sweeping the Engineers in two game.

The Saint Rose women's soccer team advanced to the Sweet 16 for an incredible ninth straight year, defeating Adelphi on Sunday. 

Also, the Saint Rose men's basketball team defeated Felician.

In college basketball, Siena nearly pulled off a huge upset against La Salle, a program that reached the Sweet 16 last season.

UAlbany lost its first game of the season, falling at Quinnipiac on Saturday.

Columnist Steve Amedio writes about the UAlbany women's basketball team, which is coming off possibly the biggest victory in school history, knocking off perennial power Marist.

Below is Ford addressing the crowd following his final home game after 44 years as the program's head coach. 

J.S. Carras/The Record

The College of Saint Rose women's soccer team has built quite the tradition.

The Golden Knights haven't allowed a goal in 12 games this season and are ranked No. 3 in the country, as they try to keep their streak of five straight Final Fours in tact -- and add to it.

Here is a link to a story that ran in Sunday's paper about the team's great start to the season -- even by their standards.

The defense is led by senior goalie Jessica Gerski (right), who hasn't allowed a goal all year and has been the starting keeper, since transferring in for her sophomore season.

There is no doubt the Golden Knights are one of the premier programs in the country.

The team won a national title in 2011 and have an incredible 141-11-9 record over the past seven years under coach Laurie Darling Gutheil. 

J.S. Carras/The Record

The College of Saint Rose women's soccer team is in the Division II Sweet 16, for the fifth consecutive season.

The defending champs are just two wins away from advancing to their fifth straight Final Four.

Here is a link to my story on the team, which next takes on Dowling College, on Friday, in West Chester, Pa.

J.S. Carras/The Record

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute men's soccer team is headed to the big dance.

The Engineers (9-5-6) take on Christopher Newport, on Saturday evening, on the campus of Swathmore College (just outside of Philadelphia), in the Division III NCAA tournament.

Here is a link to my story, which ran in Thursday's paper. 

Here is the bracket.

Here is a link to the school's release, which has access to watching and listening to the game.

RPI Athletics

The Sage men's soccer team is only three years into having a program and yet, they are competing for their league title and a spot in the Division III NCAA tournament.

Here is a link to my story about the Gators.

Below is video of senior co-captain Kevin Dommreis.

The Siena Saints women's soccer team has moved into the Top 25 rankings.

The Saints are 10-0-0, the only unbeaten and untied team in the country and they become the first Siena athletics program to be ranked during the Division I era.

"It's a great accomplishment and recognition for our team to be recognized nationally," coach Steve Karbowski told the Siena athletic department. "This is something that the team can be proud of to be able to earn a great recognition such as this."

Here is a link to a story I did on the team two weeks ago.

Troy native Marisa Abbott has helped propel High Point University into the NCAA Tournament.

The Panthers are taking on national power North Carolina on Friday night.

Abbott, a senior, helped High Point win the Big South Tournament by not allowing any goals in three games.

In the championship game against Winthrop, Abbott, a former player for Tamarac High ('06), stopped two penalty kicks and was then named the tournament's MVP.

Below is Abbott making one of her big saves.

Saratogian Sports Editor Brien Bouyea wrote in today's (Fri. 10/3) edition of the Saratogian, our sister paper, about Siena soccer players Ashleigh Barone and Maria DeMatteo.

Barone, a Shenendehowa graduate and The Record's 2007 Player of the Year, is on an absolute tear.

She has nine goals and four assists for 22 points (goals are two points, assists are one) and the Saints are undefeated at 7-0-2.

She entered the week, seventh in the nation in scoring at 2.44 points per game - in the nation for Division I players.

I thought Ashleigh was a great player, but she is making an instant impact and Siena is more than lucky to have her.

Below is the story......

By BRIEN BOUYEA
The Saratogian

LOUDONVILLE — Ashleigh Barone and Maria DeMatteo didn’t waste any time establishing their ‘stop us if you can’ mentality for the Siena College women’s soccer team this season.

In the first game of the season against Rhode Island — one of the most talented opponents on the Saints’ schedule — Barone and DeMatteo each netted a goal to get Siena off on the right foot in a 2-1 victory over the Rams.

It was an authoritative opening statement — and a sign of things to come.

Spearheaded by the superlative play of Barone and DeMatteo, the Saints are off to the best start in program history with a 7-0-2 record entering tonight’s Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opener at Niagara.

“It’s been a lot of fun so far,” Barone said. “I thought we’d be pretty good, but this start is somewhat of a surprise. We are a pretty young team and you never really know what to expect. It’s given us great confidence and we think it’s only the beginning of what we can do.”

Siena head coach Steve Karbowski agrees.

“They’ve given us energy and great production,” Karbowski said of Barone and DeMatteo.
“Both are very skilled players and they’ve stepped up and flourished in prominent roles for us. I’m really excited about the potential they have.”

Barone, a Shenendehowa High School graduate, leads the team in goals (9) and points (22) and is tied for the team lead in assists (4), while DeMatteo, a Saratoga Springs grad, is the team’s second-leading scorer (4-2-10). The onetime Suburban Council rivals are now a prolific 1-2 scoring punch for a young and hungry group of Saints.

“We don’t talk much about the past rivalry we had in high school,” DeMatteo said. “It’s all about being together now and working to help our team win. There really isn’t any rivalry with us at all.”

Barone and DeMatteo are both newcomers to the Siena program. Barone is a freshman forward who was a five-year letter winner with the Plainsmen and the 2007 Section II Player of the Year.

DeMatteo, meanwhile, played significant minutes as a freshman at St. John’s University in the Big East Conference as a freshman last year before transferring to be closer to home. Before St. John’s, DeMatteo, also a forward, played five years on the varsity level with the Blue Streaks and was a first-team All-State selection as a senior.

“I had pretty much had enough of the city; it wasn’t much fun living in Queens,” DeMatteo said of her decision to transfer. “I just wanted to find an atmosphere that was a bit more suited for me and Siena has been great so far.”

Karbowski considers himself fortunate to have landed two players as accomplished as Barone and DeMatteo to lead his young team, which features only two senior starters.

“They’re both very polished, finished products,” he said. “Ashleigh is always in the right place and she doesn’t waste opportunities,” Karbowski said. “Against UAlbany she took only three shots and scored on each once … very efficient.

“Maria is a very similar player overall, but a bit more aggressive in one-on-one situations, which we encourage her to be because of her skills. Both of them also contribute on defense. They’re complete players who really play off of each other quite well. The feel they both have for the game can’t be taught.”

Barone and DeMatteo have already garnered plenty of recognition for their stellar play. Each has been honored with MAAC Offensive Player of the Week honors and Barone has a MAAC Rookie of the Week award to her credit.

“I don’t want to get too ahead of myself, but it’s really fun to watch them and think about what the next couple years could be like,” Karbowski said. “They’re part of a young core — we have a combined nine freshmen and sophomores starting — that we have very high hopes for.”

Barone and DeMatteo lead a large contingent of players from Saratoga County who are making an impact for the Saints. Senior midfielder Chelsea Maguire (Shenendehowa), sophomore defender Jenna Placke (Shenendehowa) and junior midfielder Marissa Shibley (Shenendehowa) are also starring for Siena, while senior Patti Carroll (Galway) started in goal the past three years but is currently injured.

While the Saints are trying to focus on the here and now instead of peering into the future, Barone admits she is looking forward to a chance to play in the MAAC Tournament, which the Saints will be hosting in November.

“Getting to the NCAA Tournament is a big goal of ours and it gives us a huge advantage to have our fans and a lot of our families able to be here and support us in the league tournament,” Barone said. “We know we have a lot of work before we get there, but it’s definitely a motivation for us to stay focused from now until then. We’ve had a great start to the season and I think even better things are ahead.”